PENSIONER Brian Cormey says his life is being made a misery by a huge tree which casts gloom over his house.

The 74-year-old has been battling for two years to get the 50ft ash at the back of his bungalow pruned.

Standing between his garden and a field, it is just 20ft away from his home in Honeysuckle Drive, Alderman's Green, Coventry, and overshadows both the lounge and bedroom, leaving the rooms in almost perpetual darkness.

There had been some confusion over whether the tree stands on common land and is the responsibility of Coventry City Council or is in Mr Cormey's garden and therefore the responsibility of Whitefriars.

But the council has now confirmed the tree is not on its land and is not the subject of a tree preservation order.

Father-of-one Mr Cormey said: "It seems to me like the authorities care more for the tree than me.

"In sunny weather, I still find it hard to see, but when it's cloudy it's pitch black inside my house.

"The appalling light is damaging my eyes, but no-one seems to care."

A former light welterweight boxing champion who competed at national level and in the armed forces, Mr Cormey has lived at the same address for 13 years.

He said: "The tree really makes me upset and frustrated because I cannot enjoy the sunlight anymore.

"I'm desperate for someone to sort it out."

Karen Iceton, head of business and contracts at Whitefriars, said the tree had already been looked at and it was known it would need tidying up at some point.

She added: "The tree requires crown lifting to a height of four metres.

"Crown lifting is the removal of the lowest branches and preparing the lower branches for future removal.

"In order to alleviate the concerns of Mr Cormey, we have sent one of our estate contracts officers to do an up-to-date inspection and determine whether the work requires bringing forward."